Improvement in fence-posts



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. PEFFLEY, OF LADOGA, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 189,256, dated April 3, 1877; application filed February 10, 1877.

a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representa- 'tion of a front view of my fence-post; and

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the same. This invention relates to fence-posts and other posts having metal points at their lower ends to facilitate the setting of said posts in the ground; and the nature of said invention consists in providing said points withoutlets for the escape of Water from the interior thereof, substantially as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, A designates the rails of a fence, and B one of the poststo which said rails are attached, and by which they are supported. 0 designates a metal point, preferably of cast-iron, made somewhat larger than said post at its upper end, and tapering gradually downward. Said point is to be driven into the ground to retain said post in an upright position, and obviates the necessity of digging post-holes, which is often inconvenient where the ground is stony or filled with roots. On the upper end of said point are formed two lugs or plates, 0 c, which I are transversely perforated at c c, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower end b of said post B is correspondingly perforated at b b,and set within said lugs c 0, so that said perforations c b will register. Fastening-bolts D D are then passed through said registering-perforations b c, and nuts (1 d are screwed home in the usual manner upon said bolts, thereby securing said post B and point O together. On the lower end of said post is formed a small downwardly-extending conical block, B, which sets in a similar recess or cavity,

0', of the upper end of point 0. Said cavity is extended or tapered downward, and provided at its lower end with a cross-passage, 0 (shown in detail in Fig. 2,) forming an outlet-opening on each side of said point. The number of said outlet-openings may be increased. Their function is to allow the es cape of the water which would otherwise remain about the lower end of post B and rot the same.

The said post and point may be considerably varied in shape without departing from my invention. The said point, provided with the said outlet-openings, may also be used with telegraph-poles, shed-posts, or uprights of any sort. It will be found valuable wherever their lower ends are to be driven into the ground and exposed to the weather. Point B and cavity O, fitting together as described, make the attachment of said post and point more secure. Passage 0 need not be extended across point C, but may simply constitute a single outlet-opening extending from the bottom of said cavity to the outside of said point. Said outletpassage is preferably slightly inclined, as shown in Fig. 2, to allow the water to run off more readily at one side.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The metallic fence-post 0, having its upper part made hollow, and provided with an outlet-hole, 0 at the bottom of said hollow, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

'2. The combination of post B, having conical block B on its lower end, with point 0, having perforated lugs c c, cavity 0, and an outlet at the bottom of said cavity, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

I11 testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ROBINSON PEFFLEY.

Witnesses: i

T. D. MORRIS, JAMES BELL. 

